PODCAST: Era of cost-advantaged ethane crackers ends

BARCELONA (ICIS)–With oil prices at around $30/bbl despite the new OPEC+ agreement, ethane crackers have lost their big production cost advantage over naphtha-based rivals.

• New cost curve analysis shows low oil price means the end of the cost-advantaged cracker
• Why the OPEC+ crude oil production agreement is not propping up oil prices
• Impact of European refinery cuts on chemical feedstock supplies
• Asia chemical markets face weak demand, hand-to-mouth buying, currency fluctuations
• New ICIS scenarios showing the impact of coronavirus on polymer markets
• Longer-term move to local supply chains and more recycling

Listen to this podcast interview with ICIS analyst Ciaran Healy, ICIS senior consultant, Asia, John Richardson and ICIS Insight editor, Nigel Davis.

Click here to see a presentation on the new ICIS cost curve and polymer demand scenarios.

ICIS is organising a series of free webinars and regular industry updates to help bring the industry community together in this time of crisis. Register here. 

Read John Richardson’s Asia Chemical Connections blog.

Read Paul Hodges ICIS Chemicals and the Economy blog.

Interview by Will Beacham.